Page 26 of Unruly

“Sure, sure.”

“Is he ignoring your calls, or something?”

“Or something,” Rick said vaguely. “It’s just unusual for Zeke to drop off the radar when you’re out of town. You know what I mean? We go back and forth to make sure nobody knows you’re not around, and deflect the guys.”

“Well, find him.”

Cross wasn’t too worried.

Zeke was his best, and oldest, friend. He wasn’t out somewhere betraying Cross, or their family. Cross would concern himself with figuring out what in the hell was up with Zeke once he got back home.

“Call me if he’s still MIA by tomorrow,” Cross ordered.

“Got it, boss.”

He hung up the call, and stuffed the phone back into his pocket. He considered calling Zeke, but thought better of it only because he trusted his friend.

Zeke had always been there when Cross needed him.

It never failed …

“It’s a girl.”

“What?”

Cross shoved the office door open wider, and stared in the room at his best friend. Zeke only stared back like Cross had grown a second head. He knew exactly what he looked like in that moment.

Crazed.

Insane.

Wild.

Unsure.

Terrified.

“It is a girl,” Cross repeated.

Zeke’s brow dipped in his confusion. “What are you—”

“The baby—the ultrasound today. We found out. We’re having a girl. Zeke, the baby is a girl.”

His friend grinned wide, and then barked out a laugh. “And you are scared shitless.”

“Yes!”

“You should be.”

Oh, Cross knew.

He didn’t need his friend pointing it out.

“I’m going to kill every human being with a Y chromosome that even looks at her, man.”

Zeke pressed his lips together in an effort to hold back more laughter. It did no good because his shoulders started shaking from the force. “You’re ridiculous, Cross.”

“Seriously. Oh, my God. What if she looks like her mother?”